The true taste of scotland

WHISKY IS THE BLOOD FLOWING THROUGH SCOTLAND’S VEINS. VISITING ITS DISTILLERIES PROVIDES AN INSIGHT IN TO THE NATION AS A WHOLE. CAROLINE DEWAR AND HELEN ARTHUR OF DISTILLERY DESTINATIONS ACT AS TOUR GUIDES

Travelling around distilleries in Scotland provides a great way of getting to know the country. For they are situated near the borders and as far north as the Orkney Isles with outposts on both the east and west coasts and on some Hebridean Isles.

But there is so much more to see when touring and by linking distillery visits to different themes provides a real insight into the country.

Scotland’s history is full of myths and ghostly legends. Tracking them down can be fascinating, and many of the stories relate to strange happenings at whisky distilleries.

On a winter’s night when the wind races the clouds across the sky and the moon struggles to shine you can imagine the gibbet standing tall at the cross-roads near Gallow Crook and see the poor thief hanging from the gallows.

This is the home of Glen Moray distillery situated on the old road into Elgin where executions took place until the end of the 1600s.

Leaving southwards from Glen Moray your next stop might be Glen Grant. In 1894 Major James Grant came back from Africa to take over his family distillery. He returned with a young orphan, Biawa Makalanga known as Bye-way.

After leaving school Bye-way worked as James’ butler. He survived the major by some 40 years and was buried in Rothes.

In 1978 his ghost was seen in Glenrothes distillery. Why did Bye-way choose this distillery and not Glen Grant his former home?

The answer may be that during work at Glenrothes, a ley line, which ran from Rothes Castle to the ce.....

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By Caroline Dewar

Section : Scottish Whisky

Page number : 63